Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans she has to remove the 20 livestock units cap on grant aid for farm development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4118/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A minimum of 20 income units from farming is required for grant applications under the on-farm investment schemes. The European Commission has repeatedly opposed any relaxation of the minimum income provision, despite several approaches from the Department of Agriculture and Food on the matter. The conditions of the farm waste management scheme, including the 20-income unit restriction, are under consideration.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review the payment structure for the SFP to facilitate two instalments rather than one payment in December; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4119/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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European Council Regulation 1782/2003, which governs the single payment scheme, stipulates that payments under the scheme will be made once a year, within the period from 1 December of the year of application to 30 June of the following year. The regulation also provides for advance payment circumstances to be decided by the European Commission, subject to the budgetary position. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for a member state to decide on different payment dates to those specified in the Council regulation or those which may be specified by the Commission in certain circumstances. As the rules governing the single payment scheme are prescribed under European Council and Commission regulations, the Department of Agriculture and Food has no option but to adhere to them.